Cigar



Nov. 26, 1963 M. VERBAKEL 3,111,950

' CIGAR Origifial Filed Nov. 16, 1959 Alana 15 F' I G 4 INVENTOR MARTINUS VERBAKEL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,111,950 CIGAR Maztinus Verbaltel, Eindhoven, Netherlands, assignor to Koninldiik Vereenigde Tabalrsindustrieen Mignot 8: de Block N.V., Eindhoven, Netherlands, a company of the Netherlands Original application Nov. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 853,110, now Patent No. 3,064,658, dated Nov. 20, 1962. Divided and this application Aug. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 216,564

4 Claims. (Cl. 1318) ,The invention relates to a cigar, particularly a cigar of the Dutch -bolknak-shape, and is a division of Patent No. 3,064,658, issued November 20, 1962.

A bolknak cigar is a cigar having a relatively thick, conical or spherical, closed or nearly closed fire-end, a tapering body and a relatively thin, conical or spherical, closed or nearly closed mouth-end.

Bunches for cigars having a thick, closed or almost closed conical or spherical fire-end cannot be wrapped entirely mechanically in a wrapper leaf in a satisfactory manner in the usual machines, in which the wrapper leaf is helically wrapped from the fire-end towards the monthend of the bunch. The first end-portion of the wrapper lea-f, which portion has to be wrapped around the fireend portion of the bunch, must then, in order to reach the point of the fire-end, be moved with a blow by a needle or blown by a current of air into the wrapper rolling mechanism through a too great distance and at a too unfavorable angle with the leaf holder to give satisfactory results.

For the mechanical manufacture of cigars having a thick conical fire-end it has been proposed to wrap the bunches for such cigars in the wrapper from the mouthend towards the fire-end of the bunches. However, with this manner of wrapping, the wrapper is wound around the bunch in the wrong direction, so that the wrapper must be provided with glue throughout its entire length. The application of glue on the wrapper leaf through a great length is rather difficult, so that the risk is great that the wrapper is not well glued and comes off locally during smoking. It also appeared that the wrapper leaf often gets loose or becomes crumpled in the region where the fire-end portion of the cigar merges into the body thereof. Moreover, this known way of manufacture does not permit to finish the mouth-end portion of the cigar satisfactorily. That is why the mouth-end is often cut off before the cigars are put on the market.

The invention has for its object to provide a cigar of the described shape or the like, which may be provided with a wrapper leaf by a machine in such a manner, that the disadvantages of the wrapper which is rolled in the wrong direction around the bunch are avoided. This new cigar is characterized in that the wrapper leaf is helically wound around the bunch both from the region where the fire-end portion merges into the body of the cigar towards the mouth-end and from said region towards the fire-end of the cigar. By far the greatest portion of the cigar is now covered by wrapper leaf in the normal direction, that is, by a wrapper helically wound towards the mouth-end of the cigar, so that after the conical or spherical fire-end portion of the cigar has been smoked the wrapper has no tendency to unwind, since it is held in place by its overlapping turns. Only at the fire-end and at the mouth-end of the cigar the wrapper must be glued. With this new cigar the wrapper is brought onto the bunch in the thickest region thereof. This can be easily done with the aid of a scraper or a current of air, since the distance between the leaf holder and the bunch will be very small in said region. The portion of the wrapper meant for covering the fire-end portion of the bunch, which portion must be entirely provided with glue,

"ice

will nestle tautly and smoothly onto the fire-end of the bunch contained in the rolling mechanism and the remaining portion of the wrapper, which is helically wound around the bunch in the normal way, permits that also the considerably thinner conical or spherical mouth-end portion is entirely or almost entirely closed by the wrapper.

A machine for the manufacture of cigars according to the invention, which machine is provided in the same way as known wrapping machines with a rolling mechanism consisting of a set of rollers, a leaf holder and means for leading a wrapper leaf from said holder into said rolling mechanism, may advantageously comprise a leaf holder composed of two individual parts, of which the first part has a leaf supporting surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rolling space within the rolling mechanism and the second part is formed as a turntable, the leaf supporting surface of which touches a line contained in the plane of the supporting surface of the said first part and is rolled along said line during part of the relative movement of the rolling mechanism and the leaf holder. The turntable is preferably mounted for swinging about an axis containing the tangent point between the supporting surfaces of the two parts of the leaf holder. Then the turntable may be swung into a position, in which its supporting surface touches a point of the fire-end portion of the wrapped cigar and encloses a portion of the rolling space within the rolling mechanism meant to receive the fireend portion of the cigar bunch. Due to this swinging movement the wrapper nestles well onto said fire-end portion.

The machine for applying a wrapper to a bunch may be provided with a leaf holder, of which the first part is formed as a stationary table, over which the rolling mechanism is moved and along which the turntable is rolled.

It is stated that a leaf holder for feeding wrapper leaves to rolling mechanisms and provided with a turntable is already known. In this known leaf holder the turntable can only be rotated about its axis with respect to the remaining part of the leaf holder and it serves merely the purpose to smooth out the last portion of the wrapper meant for covering the mouth-end portion of the bunch. In contrast therewith the turntable according to the invention forms an individual part of the leaf holder which not only is rotated about its axis but is also adapted to carry out other movements. Moreover, said turntable serves to apply wrapper leaf to the fire-end portion of the bunch. The mentioned known device does not solve the problem of mechanically covering with wrapper leaf a bunch for a cigar having a thick closed or almost closed conical or spherical fire-end portion.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the wrapping section of such a machine;

FIG. 2 is partly an elevational view, partly a sectional view taken on the line lIIl of FIG. 1 of said wrapping section;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IIlllI of FIG. 2, in which the turntable has a sloping position, :and

FIG. 4 is a cigar according to the invention.

In the drawing, 1 designates a part of a leaf holder which part is formed as a stationary table and cooperates with a second part 2 of the leaf holder, constructed as a turntable. The side edge of the table 1 is formed as a toothed rack 3, with which teeth 4 of the turntable 2 meshes. A rolling mechanism constituted by a set of rotary rollers 5 is mounted for reciprocating movement over said table 1. 'The rolling mechanism is adapted in a well known but not shown manner to receive a bunch 6 on the right hand side of the table 1. The bunch is meant for a cigar having a slightly conical body provided with a thick short conical or spherical fire-end portion 6a and a relatively thin conical or spherical mouth-end portion 6b. When the bunch is in the rolling mechanism its fire-end portion protrudes from the edge of the table and is partly contained in a finishing block 7 which belongs to the rolling mechanism. Said mechanism 5, 7 is supported by to and fro movable rods 8 and the rollers 5 are driven during the active movement of the mechanism in a manner not shown, but known per se. During this active movement of the rolling mechanism the bunch 6 is, as it were, rolled over the table 1.

The shaft 9 of the turntable 2 is supported in a boxshaped carrier 10, which is connected to a shaft 12 adapted to be swung about its axis, which contains the tangent point 1 1 between the supporting surfaces of the stationary table 1 and the turntable 2. This axis encloses together with the supporting surface of the table 1 an acute angle and the shaft 12 is supported by a slide 13 mounted for reciprocating movement in the direction of the movement of the rolling mechanism. This slide is connected to a spring 14 and provided with a sliding member '15, which is kept in its rest position by means of a spring 16. This sliding member 15 is connected to the slide 13 by means of a slot-and-rivet connection 13a, 15a and is adapted to move with respect to said slide through a limited distance defined by the length of the slots 13a.

The sliding member 15 has a finger '17, which engages a cross pin 18 attached to the shaft 12. When the sliding member 15 is moved with respect to the slide 13 against the force of the spring 116, which is weaker than the spring 14, the finger 17 turns, through the cross pin 18, the shaft .12 a little bit, so that the turntable 2, is swung about the tangent point 1 1 and positioned at a predetermined angle with the supporting surface of the stationary table .1 (see FIG. 3).

One of the two rods 8 is provided with a rotary catch 19, of which one arm hangs downward by its weight and the other arm is adapted to engage a guide 20 (FIG. 2).

When the rolling mechanism 5, 7 containing a bunch 6 is moved to the left over the table 1 the catch 19 being held by the guide 20 will engage a pin 21 connected to an upward pointing finger 22 of the sliding member a short time after the bunch has reached the position illustrated in FIG. 1. The sliding member 15 will thereby be moved in relation to the slide 113, so that the turntable 2, 110 is swung from its horizontal position into the above-mentioned sloping position. Shortly thereafter the slide 13 and the turntable 2, .10 will be moved together with the rolling mechanism on the latters further path. Due to this movement the turntable 2 will roll along the toothed rack 3 contained in the supporting surface of the table *1. When the catch 19 leaves the guide '20 the device consisting of the slide 13, the sliding member 1 5 and the turntable 2, 10 will be released, so that it vwill be returned by the spring 14 in its position of rest against the abutment 23 illustrated in FIG. 2.

Before the rolling mechanism containing the bunch has reached the position shown in FIG. 1 a preformed wrapper leaf is laid either by hand or mechanically onto the combined supporting surfaces of the stationary table 1 and the turntable 2. This wrapper leaf consists of an elongated portion 24, which comes to lie on the table 1 in the illustrated oblique position, and of a ring sectorshaped portion 25, or flag portion with an outer perimeter 25a, which comes to lie on the turntable 2. This ring sector-shaped portion is lengthened with a tapered portion 26 merging into the edge of the elongated portion 24 and forming with the tab or point portion 28 a generally triangular-shaped lead-in lip. An incision 27 may be made between the two portions 24 and 25 of the wrapper leaf. In some cases this incision may be dispensed with. The tab or point portion 28 of the lead-in lip of the wrapper, which must be fed into the rolling mechanism 5 first is blown into said mechanism by means of a current of air ejected from an aperture 29 when the rolling mechanism containing the bunch 6 is moved over said point portion. Air is supplied by a tube 2% provided with a valve 2% which is opened when the rolling mechanism is straight above the point portion 28 of the wrapper and is closed when said mechanism has passed the region of the aperture 29. Also, other conventional means than a current of air may be used for leading the point portion 28 of the Wrapper into the rolling space within said mechanism. Such means forms no part of the present invention.

During the further active movement of the rolling mechanism the point portion 23 of the wrapper is wound around the bunch in the zone or region where the fireend portion merges into the body of the bunch, that is, in the thickest place of the bunch. A short time after the rolling mechanism and the bunch have passed the position shown in FIG. 1 the turntable 2, 10 is brought into the slopping position illustrated in FIG. 3. When the rolling mechanism has approximately reached the position in which the axis of its rolling space is directly above the tangent point 11, the sloping turntable 2, 10 is moved together with the rolling mechanism to the left.

The result of this movement is that the ring sectorshaped wrapper portion 25 nestles as a cap onto the fireend portion of the bunch. Said cap is smoothed out by the finishing block 7. At the same time the wrapper portion 24 is helically wound around the body and the mouth-end portion of the bunch. in order to cover the conical or spherical mouth-end portion of the bunch with wrapper leaf smoothly the table 1 is in its supporting surface provided with a second turntable 30 adapted to give the end portion of the wrapper leaf a certain curvature and thereby some tension. Also at the end for receiving the mouth-end portion of the bunch the rolling mechanism may be provided with a finishing block 31. This block may be dispensed with, when the rollers of said mechanism are so constructed that they themselves are able to smooth out the wrapper leaf covering the mouth-end portion of the bunch.

The cigar which is covered with wrapper leaf entirely mechanically by means of the above-mentioned apparatus is closed or substantially closed at both ends.

Preferably, the turntable 2, 10 and the rolling mechanism are coupled to one another just before the axis of the rolling space within said mechanism has reached the position directly above the tangent point 11 between the supporting surfaces of the table 1 and the turntable 2. In that case, the edge 24a of the elongated portion 24 of the wrapper will nestle onto the bunch a little bit later than the peripheral edge of the ring sector-shaped portion 25 thereof and thus will overlap said portion 25. Should both edges bordering the incision 27 be wound around the bunch exactly simultaneously with their opposite points, the risk would be great that these edges of the wrapper hamper each other and that creases are produced which are difficult to smooth out.

It is also possible to rearrange parts of the machine in a manner that the side edge 24:: of the wrapper portion 24 will be wound around the thickest region of the bunch a little bit earlier than the peripheral edge of the ring sector-shaped portion 25.

It will be obvious that the wrapper portion 25, 26 and the last part of the wrapper portion 24 must be provided with glue before the bunch is rolled over said wrapper portions. It is further apparent that the table -1 and the turntables 2 and 30 are perforated and that the wrapper is held on the composite leaf holder by suction. The wrapper leaf may be formed from two individual portions 24 and 25 glued together. Such a wrapper leaf may be cut out of a tobacco leaf much more economically.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that may modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except by the spirit of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A cigar wrapper-leaf for helically wrapping a tobacco bunch formed into an elongated, tapered body having a relatively thick, curved fire-end portion and a relatively thin, curved mouth-end portion, comprising a lead-in lip having a narrow tab portion and a tapering portion extending therefrom to widen the lip, an elongated portion and an arcuate flag portion having an outer perimeter at least equal to the cincumference of the thickest part of the fire-end portion of the bunch, said elongated portion and said flag portion starting both from said tapering portion of the lead-in lip and extending in different directions at an acute angle.

2. A cigar wrapper-leaf according .to claim 1, wherein said flag portion is shaped as the sector of an annulus.

3. A cigar wrapper-leaf according to claim 1 wherein said elongate and flag portions are integral and separated partially by a cut.

4. A cigar comprising a tobacco bunch, formed into an elongated, tapered body having a relatively thick, curved fire-end portion, and a relatively thin, curved mouth-end portion and a wrapper-leaf wound around said bunch and having a lead-in lip lying on the bunch in the region Where the fire-end portion merges into the body of the bunch, said lead-in lip including a narrow tab portion and a tapering portion which extends therefrom to widen the lip, an elongated portion lying in a helix around the body and the mouth-end portion of the bunch, and an arcuate flag portion covering the fire-end portion of the bunch, said flag portion having an outer perimeter at least equal to the circumference of the thickest part of the bunch, said elongated portion and said flag portion both starting from said tapering portion of the lead-in lip and extending over the same side of the bunch in different directions at an acute angle toward the mouth-end and the fire-end of the bunch respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 451,737 Peck May 5, 1891 657,403 Du Brul Sept. 4, 1900 1,128,990 La Oroix Feb. 16, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS 547,992 Belgium Nov. 22, 1956 

1. A CIGAR WRAPPER-LEAF FOR HELICALLY WRAPPING A TOBACCO BUNCH FORMED INTO AN ELONGATED, TAPERED BODY HAVING A RELATIVELY THICK, CURVED FIRE-END PORTION AND A RELATIVELY THIN, CURVED MOUTH-END PORTION, COMPRISING A LEAD-IN LIP HAVING A NARROW TAB PORTION AND A TAPERING PORTION EXTENDING THEREFROM TO WIDEN THE LIP, AN ELONGATED PORTION AND AN ARCUATE FLAG PORTION HAVING AN OUTER PERIMETER AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE THICKEST PART OF THE FIRE-END PORTION OF THE BUNCH, SAID ELONGATED PORTION AND SAID FLAG PORTION STARTING BOTH FROM SAID TAPERING PORTION OF THE LEAD-IN LIP AND EXTENDING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AT AN ACUTE ANGLE. 